Vice President Sara Duterte is preparing for another international engagement, with a visit to Japan set for September 20 to 21. She confirmed the trip during an interview in The Hague, where she has been staying to visit her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who remains detained by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“Yes, [the trip to] Japan will push through. It was already set by the Filipino community there,” Duterte said on Thursday (Netherlands time). She described the event as a “large gathering” organized by Filipinos in Japan to show support for her father.
This will mark Duterte’s third trip to Japan this year—following a private visit in January and another in February with her younger sister Kitty. It will also bring her tally of foreign travels to 13 in 2024, with her 14th trip set for the Netherlands on September 23, when the ICC is expected to confirm charges against her father.
Duterte’s series of international trips has sparked questions from the public and even Malacañang. She has defended her travels, insisting that all have complied with legal requirements for government officials leaving the country.
In recent weeks, the Vice President has also visited Kuwait and France, where she likewise met with supporters. For now, she remains in The Hague, awaiting the upcoming ICC proceedings.
